Game



Jan. 29, 1946. 'P, P. YEIIJOFF I 2,393,726 I GAME Filed May 21, 1943INVENTOR fau/ f? Yejoff M flTTOR/VEYS Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Pllll P. Yeiflt fattle, W181i. Aliplicatlznctalzl,xii- 27:15:30. 487,853

This invention relates to the art of games.

More particularly my invention relates to a game simulating fishing.

Of all outdoor sport activities, fishing probably has as wide an'appealas any, appealing as it does, to fundamental instincts. In real life,fishing embraces surprise, chance, skill in muscular control and studyeffort in determining how best to manipulate equipment. These features,it has been my purpose, to provide in simulation in a game as set forthherein.

An object of this invention is -to provide a game which will beconducive to relaxation of the players and at the same time will behighly amusing and entertaining and will afford an opportunity for thedevelopment and use of a high degree of skill in playing.

Another object is to provide game apparatus that is simple inconstruction and not expensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide not only an entertaining and relaxing gamewhich simulates fishing and which is largely a game of skill but alsorequires a reasonable amount of mental effort and involves an element ofchance which adds to the fascination of the game.

A further object is to provide game apparatus comprising a normallyhorizontal board or playing surface provided with curved or tortuousslots which guide and help to support plane flat figures or playingPieces that are adapted to be hooked and moved along and out of theslots by hook line and pole means manipulated by the players, the saidtortuous slots and the said fi ures and the said hooks being-shaped andarranged so that it requires a high degree of skill to draw a figurealong and out of a slot without losing the figure off of the hook.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention together with othersinherent in the same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated in thefollowing drawing, the same being preferred exemplary forms ofembodiment of my invention, throughout which drawing like referencenumerals indicate like parts: 7

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the playing board of game apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken substantially on brokenline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevationof this game apparatus showing a playing piece or figurein a startingposition in a tortuous slot of the board;

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly inelevationsimilar to Fig, 3 except that the playing piece is shown ina playingposition into which it might be moved after being engaged by a hook on aline;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view takensubstantially on broken line5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing a playing piece engaged by a hook on the endof a line that is secured to a pole; and

v Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the invention partlyin section and partly in elevation, showing a playing piece or figure in1 full line in a starting position and in dotted line when moved oilbalance in a tortuous slot of the board.

The game apparatus herein disclosed comprises a board It disposedpreferably in horizon tal position when being used in playing and havinga plurality of curved or tortuous slots l I therein simulating waterlanes. Each slot II has an enlarged portion l2 of greater width than theslot at one end thereof.

A plane flat supporting member 13 is disposed parallel to the board l0and in spaced relation therefrom. Preferably the board I!) is formed bythe top portion of a box and the supporting fioor or member l3 by thebottom of the box.

When thus formed the sides H of the box support the two members Ill andI3 in spaced apart arallel relation and complete a box-like enclosure inwhich the smaller parts of this game apparatus may be kept. This box maybe opened and closed in the usual manner.

v The plane flat figures or playing piece or pieces,

termed fish herein, with which the game is played are preferably eachmade to simulate a fish. Each figure or fish preferably comprises a bodyportion IS, a head portion l6, and a tail portion H which is curvedsidewise in the plane of .the figure and forms a rocker surface I8adapted to rest on the floor or bottom I3 01' the box. A tail fin 20 onthe tail portion ll of the figure has a tip portion I9 adapted to reston the support formed by the bottom l3 to support the figure in thestarting balanced position as shown in Fig. 3. As disclosed in Figs. 3,4, 5, and 6 the playing pieces, figures, or fish, rest on the supportingfloor or member l3 as respects their base or tail portions while theupper portions are supported by the side walls of the slot H. Not beingphysically joined to the supporting means or to .the walls of the slot lI, the figure may be said to be detachably" supported. The mechanicalconnection or relation between the tortuous slot H and the playingpieces or figures I5 is simply that of a slot the walls of which serveas asidewise support and permit a free sliding contact with the sides ofthe playing pieces I5 while they are being moved along said tortuousslots by the pole and line supported hook element 23 engaged in the hole2 I As appears-from the drawing the sides of the "fish are onlycontacted by the sides of slot I I in board III so that thefish is freefor sliding engagement with the walls of the slot II. Thus the fish issupported, when hand set or placed at the commencement of-the game in anupright osition, by the base formed by the rocker portion or thebody-and tail tip and by the sides of the slot II.

A hole 2I is provided in the head portion I6 of each figure or fish" I5for the reception of a tortuous channelforming slot II and the "fish" orfigure is simply a sliding contact and the moment the "fish" becomesfreeof the hook it drops freely down the slot and lies prone on the supporting member I3 so that it is lost to the player. The rules requirefor the fish in order to count in scoring that it must be dragged orplayed after being hooked along the tortuous slot,- without showing themark ,21, to the enlarged opening I2, the head of the .stream,"

where the fish may be lifted free of the slot II.-

i. e.. the board, or legally basketed. The fish is I v mechanically freeto be lifted out of the slot II at hook which preferably comprises ashank 22 and a substantially straight hook element 23 extending atsubstantially right angles from said shank 22. The shank 22 is securedto a line 24 that is made fast to a pole 25. The pole 25 is long enoughto be conveniently handled by the player and the line 24 is long enoughso that it requires skill and a steady hand on the part of the player toengage the dangling hook element 25 in the hole 2I in the head portionof a figure.

Preferably a relatively heavy transverse line 21, which may be of anydesired color, is provided on the body of each figure far enough belowthe nose portion of the figure so that it will be hidden beneath theboard l0 when a figure is in a slot I I and rests on the bottom I3. Theplayer is pref erably required to keep this line below the surface ofthe board II] when he is moving a figure along a slot I I. I

Preferably each figure or fish" is provided on mark a value on thefigure for the purpose of scoring and also in this additional way:provide for the element of chance, since the numbers differ on thevarious fish their value differs.

When the figures or values as 2 are on one side only of the fish", theyare turned down, so that in placing the fish of each set in starting thegame their value is unknown to the players. One figure is provided foruse'in' each tortuous slot II. This makes a total of twelve figures orfish in a complete set. Preferably I divide these twelve figures or fishinto two sets of six figures each and number the fish of each set 1, 2,3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. When the fish are in the slots, as shown inFig. 3 the numbers thereon will be concealed.

Each figure I5, I6, I1 is shaped so that when it is placed ina slot IIwith the rocker portion I8 and tail fin tip I9 resting on the support I3the body portion I5 of the figure or fish will be inclined relative tothe vertical as shown in Fig. 3 and a vertical line passing through thecenter of gravity of the figure or fish will fall between the respectivepoints where the rocker portion I8 and the tip I9 contact the supportI3. This will give the figure stability and prevent it from tilting ineither direction in the plane of the figure or fish.

As soon as a player hooks a figure and starts to move it along a slot IIthe figure will assume a position as shown in Fig. 4 and the verticalline which passes through its center of gravity will be shifted to theother side of the point of contact of the rocker portion I8 with thesupport l3. In this position the figure will be unstable or off balanceand will fall if released by the hook.

mechanical connection or. relation between the any point, but if it islifted even so much as to show the line 21, according to the rules, itis "lost" or is an "escaped fish and does not count,

at least positively, in scoring. The friction of the sides of the slot II and the winding character of the slot add to the difliculty in moving,that is, playing the fish from the point of hooking to the withdrawalopening I2. The top-heavy feature or the above center of the center ofmass of the figure or fish renders it difficult for the player to causethe figure to resume the upright position in the slot after hooking andstarting to play the fish along the slot II. Such feature alsofacilitates the figure dropping'in a prone position to the bottom orsupporting means I3 when the player inadvertently permits the fish tomake too much contact with .the .walls of the slot, The book 22, 23 ismade so that it will easily slip out of the hole 2| and this increasesthe hazard of losing the figure or fish after it has been hooked. Ifsaid hook releases-when the figure is in a position as shown in Fig. 4the figure will fall down in the box and will be lost for the remainderof the game. Due. to the curvature of the slots 'H and the shape Of thehook 22, 23 it" requires considerable skill on the part of the player tomove a figure from one end to the other of a slot II and then withdrawthe figure from the slot without releasing the figure.

The enlarged end portions I2 of the slots II facilitate withdrawal ofthe figures from the slots but it requires considerable skill to firsthook at figure with the dangling hook, then draw that figure from oneend to the other of its tortuous slot, then withdraw said figure fromthe slot. The curved tail portion of a figure is important in that ithelps to support the figure in the position shown in Fig. 3 but lets thefigure assume an unstable incline while the player is maneuveringportion helps to retard or make difiicult the withdrawal of thefigure-from the slot.

Preferably the board III is marked off to provide four fields of playwhich I prefer to term pools." These are located at the four sides ofthe board and each field of play has three of the tortuous slots IItherein. The slots II in the four fields of play may vary in shape, asshown, but are similar in a general way. Any suitable coloring ormarking may be used to divide the board into the four fields of play orpools. In Fig. 1 I have illustrated diagonal markings 28 and 29 dividingthe board into the four fields of play. Preferably the board is markedwith N," S, E and "W to designate north, south, east and west. Alsopreferably each tortuous slot II is marked with a number to give it avalue for scoringpurposes. Preferably I place the numbers 1, 3 and 6adjacent to the slots II on two fields of play such as the fields markedN and "E" to thus mark these slots for scoring purposes and place thenumbers 2, 4 and 5 adjacent to the slots asea'me i i on the other twofields, marked S and "W" to provide these slots with different valuesfor scoring purposes.

Preferably each slot II has a starting mark 26 near one end thereof toindicate the starting location of a figure in the slot, the saidstartinglocation being at the opposite end of the slot from the enlarged orwidened portion l2 of the slot.

In Fig. 6 a modification is shown, wherein the game is made .to simulatea war game by having the pieces 30 of mines, which are to be swep fromthe seas.

To play this game the twelve figures are taken at random and withoutobserving the number thereon and are placed, 'one in each of the twelveslots I l. Each figure is positioned at the location of the starter mark26 of its slot with the tail portion of the figure extending toward theadjacent or starting end of the slot and the head portion thereofprojecting far enough above the board ID to expose the hole 2i so thatthe hook element 23 may be engaged therein.

Each player, in his turn, takes a rod 25, hooks the dangling hookelement 23 that is connected therewith into the hole 2| in any selectedfigure and endeavors, in one, continuous move to first draw the figureso hooked from one end or the sinuous slot II to the other and then towithdraw the figure from the slot.

It the hook releases the figure said figure may fall down in the box ormay remain standing in the slot. In either event the right of playpasses to the next player and the game so continues until all of thefigures are either landed or have been lost by dropping down into thebox. While moving a figure along a slot II and before the enlarged endportion I 2 of the slot is reached the player is required to keep theline 21 on the figure below the level of the board Ill. The figure isforfeited and regarded as lost as in the case of an unlanded fish if themark 2! appears above the level of the board. Any figure which has beenreleased from a hook but left standing in a slot may be landed by anyplayer who, later, is able to do so.

Each player landing a figure preferably adds to his score an amountequal to the number on the water lane or slot multiplied by the numberon the figure. If a player'loses a figure he deducts from his score theamount marked on the water lane or slot II in which the figure is lost.The player having the largest total score after the last figure has beenlanded or lost preferably wins the game.

If desired each player maybe restricted as to the fishing pools orsections of the board from which he may fish or the players may beallowed to choose the pools from which they will fish. Also the playersmay play as partners, for instance N and S may'play against "E and WIMany other variations may be made in the game played with thisapparatus.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangementof the parts of my invention, without departing from the principlethereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.Maniiestly, more or less playing pieces, figures or fish, andcorrespondingly moreor less pools and tortuous slots than shown hereinmay be provided.

I claim: 1. In a game means comprising a box having a normallyhorizontal top portion; a plurality of tortuous channel-forming slots insaid top portion simulating water lanes; a bottom portion spaced fromthe top portion and providing figure supporting means; and a pluralityof substantially fiat figures of a thickness less than the width of theslot shaped to simulate a fish and freely slidable in and removable fromsaid slots with the nose portion extending above said board and thelower end portion comprising a bend in the body and a tail tip, both ofwhich contact the supporting means at spaced apart points in the planeof the figure to provide incooperation with the walls of the slots forupright positioningotthefigure.

2. In a game means a board; a supporting means below said board disposedin spaced parallel relation to said board; tortuous channel-formingslots in said board; a manually operated hook; and a pluralit ofsubstantially oblongfiat figures shaped to simulate a fish, and of athickness less than said slot whereby movement and travel in said slotis freely permitted, having a tail body portion with a tail fin curvedin the plane of the figure providing in conjunction with the lower partof the tail fin a base on which the figure. may detachably stand uprighton the said supporting means, said base cooperating with the walls ofthe slots for upright positioning of a fish, a hook engageable meanscarried by the upper portion of said figure and located above said boardwhen said figure is disposed in a standing position on said supportingmeans, said hook engageable means being disposed to one side of thelocation from which the figure may be suspended with its base parallelto said supporting means .so that when said figure is suspended fromsaid hook engageable means its base will be angularly disposed to saidsupporting means.

3. In a game means a normally horizontal board; a plurality of tortuouschannel-forming 40 slots in said board; supporting means spaced belowsaid board in substantially parallel relation" thereto; a plurality ofsubstantially oblong, fiat figures and of a thickness less than saidslot having a base on which the figure may detachably stand on saidsupporting means, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots forupright positioning of a fish, and a hook engageable means carried bythe upper end portion of said figure and located above said board; and arodline supported hook engageable with said hook means having a shankand a hook element disposed substantially at right angles to the shank.

4. Game means comprising a normally horizontal board provided with aplurality of tortuous slots simulating water lanes; supporting meansspaced below said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; aplurality of oblong substantially fiat figures, each simulating a fishand adapted to be stood in an upright position at the commencement ofthe game in said tortuous slots with its upper end portion extendingabove said board and its lower end portion resting on said supportingmeans, the lower end portion of each figure being bent to provide a baseon which the figure until hooked may detachably stand on said supportingmeans, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots for uprightpositioning 01' a 5. In a game means, a, normally horizontal boardprovided with a plurality of tortuous channel-forming slots therein;supporting means spaced below said board in substantially parallelrelation thereto; and a plurality of figures, each figure having 2 athickness less than the width of one of said slots, a'base on which itmay rest when disposed in a said slot supporting the figure againstturning movement lengthwise of the slot, a height greater than thedistance between the supporting means and the said board, and a width ofa plurality of timesless than the length of said tortuous slot and lessthan its height, whereby the figure: may be supported in an uprightposition by its base and by cooperation with said slot, may projectabove said board when resting on its base, and is slidably supported fortraveling movement in said tortuous slot, and a hook engageable meanscarried by the upper end portion of each figure and located above saidboard.

6. In a game means, a normally horizontal board; a plurality of tortuouschannel-forming slots simulating water lanes; supporting means spacedbelow said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; and aplurality of substantially obong flat figures, each shaped to. simulatea fish, of a thickness less than said slot, and having a. tail bodyportion with a tail fin curved in the plane of the figure with the lowerpart of the body portion and the tail fin providing in conjunction abase on which the figure may detachably stand upright on the saidsupporting means, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots forupright positioning of a fish and hook engaging means carried by theupper end portion of said figure and located above said board.

7. Game means comprising a normally horizontal board provided with aplurality of tortuous aaeapae piec once engaged by-the hook means willtend to overturn by reason of its top heaviness upon release from saidhook means.

8. In a. game means a normally horizontal board provided with aplurality of tortuous channel-forming slots; supporting means spacedbelow said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; and aplurality of figures, each figure having a thickness less than the widthof one of said slots, a base on which it may rest when disposed in asaid slot supporting the figure against turning movement lengthwise ofthe slot, and of a height greater than the distance between thesupporting means and the said board, whereby the figure may be supportedin an upright position by its base and by cooperation with said slot,may project above said board when resting on its base, and is slidablysupported in said slot, and a hook engageable means carried by the upperend portion of said figure and located above said board, said hookengageable means being disposed to one side of the location from whichthe figure may be suspended with its base parallel to said supportingmeans so that when said figure is suspended from said hook engageablemeans its base will be angularly disposed to said supporting means. 7

PAUL P. YEJOFF.

